Storytelling Through Music

Please note that the following blog contains spoilers from the movie Ratatouille.

Ratatouille. It’s my favorite Pixar movie without a doubt and for one particular reason. Yes, the movie has an amazing screenplay and stunning animation. However, Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack is what makes the movie truly memorable for me. Ratatouille’s captivating and diverse score is vibrant and serves to enrich the meaning of the film.

Michael Giacchino (Attractions Magazine)

Le Festin, the film’s main theme song sung by French artist Camille, tells the story of Remy and his aspirations of becoming a chef. The absurdity of Remy’s fantasy is reflected through the dreamlike quality of this song. Le Festin begins slowly, with solely the vocals, then gradually builds with the addition of other instruments. A guitar adds sounds that give the song a lullaby-like quality at times, while Camille’s voice blissfully floats over the instrumental accompaniment. The song comes to an end peacefully and imparts the feeling of waking up from a sweet dream in a sunbathed Paris apartment.

Remy’s fantasies and desires are also seen in the lyrics. There is one line from Le Festin that I love, “L’espoir est un plat bien trop vite consommé.” This translates to “hope is a dish far too quickly consumed.” Throughout the film, Remy’s fantasy and hope of becoming a chef engross him to the extent that he will do anything to cook, often with complete disregard for his safety. This is evidenced several times: Remy cooks a mushroom on a lightning rod during a storm, steals spices from an elderly woman’s home, which (spoiler) doesn’t end well, and secretly adds ingredients to a soup in Gusteau’s restaurant. The lyrics of the song mirror what Ratatouille is about – pursuing one’s dream with passion.

Remy adds ingredients to a soup in Gusteau’s (Pixar)

Wall Rat is another one of my favorite tracks from the movie. It serves as an example of when musical scoring reflects on-screen actions. This track plays when Remy escapes the sewers and is running through the walls of Paris. As he scurries up metal pipes, a twittering flute accompanies him, playing ascending notes that mirror his actions. The music captives me and makes the scene not only exciting to watch, but to listen to. By the time Remy leaves the claustrophobic walls and reaches the top of the roof revealing a stunning Paris skyline, I am fully engaged. The music has now become more melodic, and a guitar has joined the other instruments, adding French flair to the orchestral instrumentation.

One of the things that makes Ratatouille’s soundtrack so powerful is its ability to tell a story independent of any visual accompaniment. The score conveys the emotions, aspirations, and actions of the characters, while contributing to the meaning of the film. Music has the ability to convey feelings and sentiments when other forms of communication fail. Giacchino’s soundtrack, as Ego might say, is “nothing less than the finest.”